Knight's honours

Nick Knight congratulated 12 South West cricket coaches for their superb services to grassroots cricket.

Last Updated: 07/09/12 4:48pm

Former England batsman Nick Knight has paid tribute to 12 South West cricket coaches for their outstanding services to grassroots cricket.

The coaches were given the exclusive opportunity to attend the second ODI between England and South Africa as part of the Sky Sports ECB Coach Education programme and met with Nick during the interval on the pitch at the Ageas Bowl.

More than 100 coaches from across England and Wales have been recognised during the 2012 season, all of whom have been voted to receive the reward by their county's fellow cricket coaches in recognition of their investment in the game.

The Reward and Recognition scheme comprises of a series of on-pitch presentations throughout the summer by various cricket legends and the Sky Sports broadcast team.

Commenting on being recognised by the programme, Joanna Greenfield from Basingstoke said: "I am extremely grateful for the Programme because I have managed to do all three of my coaching certificates through it.

"As a result, I have been able to help set up a girls' section at Odiham & Greywell CC for the first time in the club's 246 year history."

Since the beginning of BSkyB's sponsorship in 2006, more than 45,000 coaches have gone through the scheme - 40 per cent of whom have been under 25 years of age. For every professional cricketer in England and Wales, there are now over 100 grass root coaches.

The programme's 'Reward and Recognition' scheme aims to identify those cricket coaches across England and Wales that go above and beyond the call of duty to help grassroots cricket flourish.